Video: On September 20, 2011, NCAA football players around the country were surprised with the news that they had been named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football. For 20 years, the award has recognized a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities.

A program record 132 players were nominated for the award this summer. From the nominations, a special voting panel, including former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and current college football broadcasters, selected 22 players to the team.

The team is comprised of 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and NAIA.

“For two decades this award has represented one of the great aspects of college football by shining a spotlight on the community involvement of its student-athletes,” said Mark LaNeve, Allstate executive vice president, marketing & sales operations, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “Allstate is proud to partner with the AFCA to present and grow awareness around this award and continues to be inspired by the commitment and dedication of its recipients.”

Congratulations to the following players on the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team:

Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)

Name

Cl.

Pos.

School

Hometown

Robert Griffin

Jr.

QB

Baylor

Copperas Cove, Tex.

Chris Potter

Jr.

WR

Boise State

Westlake Village, Cal.

Brian Lockridge

Sr.

RB

Colorado

Trabuco Canyon, Cal.

Aron White

Sr.

TE

Georgia

Columbia, Mo.

Jacob Lewellen

Jr.

DL

Kentucky

Louisville, Ky.

Jared Crick

Sr.

DL

Nebraska

Cozed, Neb.

Alexander Netter

Sr.

OL

Northwestern

Rohnert Park, Cal.

Dayne Crist

Sr.

QB

Notre Dame

Canoga Park, Cal.

Matt Barkley

Jr.

QB

Southern California

Newport Beach, Cal.

Wayne Tribue

Sr.

OL

Temple

York, Pa.

Emmanuel Acho

Sr.

LB

Texas

Dallas, Texas

Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and NAIA

Name

Cl.

Pos.

School

Hometown

Byron Bell

Sr.

DL

Carson-Newman

Knoxville, Tenn.

Cory Nikkel

Sr.

TE

Central (Iowa)

Pella, Iowa

Jacob Heppner

Sr.

DB

Central Methodist

Mansfield, Mo.

Stoy Hall

Sr.

LB

Drake

Omaha, Neb.

David Melms

Jr.

DB

Macalester

Wauwatosa, Wis.

Kellen Cox

Jr.

WR

Missouri Southern St.

Mount Vernon, Mo.

Colby Rohde

Sr.

TE

Morningside

Wathena, Kan.

Justin Belotti

Sr.

DB

North Dakota

Kenosha, Wis.

Yaser Elqutub

Sr.

LB

Northwestern State

Katy, Texas

Matt Greenhalgh

Jr.

OL

Rhode Island

Chepachet, R.I.

Ricky McClain

Jr.

DL

SUNY Maritime

Wantagh, N.Y.

This year’s roster boasts an impressive list of credentials promoting service and volunteerism. From donating bone marrow to a cancer patient to mentoring children home and abroad to playing the piano for hospital patients, the selfless acts of these 22 student-athletes prove that tackles and touchdowns do not have to come at the expense of greatness off the field.

"The tremendous community service activities these young student-athletes participate in are exceptional," said Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. "These 22 student-athletes have sacrificed their personal time in an attempt to make their communities a better place. We couldn’t be more proud to have these players make up the 20th Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. We are also proud to be partnered with Allstate in recognizing these outstanding student-athletes."

Visit ESPN.com to learn more about each of this year’s team members and their selfless acts of kindness. The captain and his fellow award recipients will be invited to New Orleans to take part in a special volunteer project leading up to the 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl®.

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